Scammers selling bogus State Fair tickets

Talk about it

More than 4,000 people have been turned away from the Wisconsin State Fair because they bought used tickets from scammers in the parking lot instead of waiting in line.

The tickets are real, but they’re voided once they’re scanned at the gate. And there’s no way of knowing if they’ve already been used until they’re scanned again.

Only then does a buyer know if he or she got ripped off. Officials suspect that some fairgoers are picking up tickets thrown out by others on the grounds – including those printed on home computers – and selling them just outside the gates at a discount to try and make an extra buck.

Spokeswoman Patrice Harris says that with the tight economy, it’s no surprise that some folks are preying on others to get some fast money.

The tickets are not torn at the gate. Some folks keep them as souvenirs but many end up on the ground or in the garbage.

As of early Sunday night, almost 1,000 people bought used tickets Sunday alone.

Thirty-three hundred others were denied admission for the same reason Thursday through Saturday.

Tags: wisconsin news, state fair tickets, scam